Coach Mike Ockrim — Speaking, Keynotes & Appearances
Michael Ockrim is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, published author, and founder of Mighty Oak Athletic in Westmont, IL.
He speaks to parents, coaches, athletic directors, pediatricians, and community groups who want straight answers about how to raise strong, resilient kids in an age of screens, supplements, and shortcuts.
13+ years coaching 1000s of student athletes
3 books available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, Apple Books, and major retailers
Podcast guest on health, fitness, and youth athletics shows
ABOUT COACH MIKE
Coach Mike has spent more than 30 years studying and practicing strength training, nutrition, and recovery.
He founded Mighty Oak Athletic in 2013 to give kids in the Chicago suburbs what he wished he'd had at 13: a real coach, a real barbell, and a place to grow stronger without screens.
He holds the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential from the National Strength and Conditioning Association — the gold-standard certification for working with athletes — along with Level I Coach certifications from USA Weightlifting, USA Taekwondo, and MovNat, plus the Certified Personal Trainer credential from the American Council on Exercise.
He's the author of three books for student athletes and the parents who raise them: Death Resistant: A Common Sense Guide to Live Long and Drop Dead Healthy, 13 Pounds in 30 Days, and Mighty Oak Athletic Nutrition.
All three are sold at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, Apple Books, and other major retailers.
He writes a weekly newsletter on Substack about strength, nutrition, and recovery for student athletes and their families.
Coach Mike holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Arizona and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
WHO COACH MIKE SPEAKS TO
Parents & Family Audiences
Best for: PTAs, athletic booster clubs, parent-ed nights, park district programs, community wellness events.
Coach Mike's Death Resistant framework, adapted for family wellness.
How raising strong kids changes the whole household dynamic — and why the screen-free hour matters more than the supplement aisle.
Schools & District Decision-Makers
Best for: District wellness committees, curriculum coordinators, pediatric Grand Rounds, district staff PD days.
What the research actually says about youth strength training.
How a school or district can build strength culture into wellness programming without buying equipment, hiring new staff, or rewriting the curriculum.
Coaches & Professional Peers
Best for: NSCA local chapter events, IHSA clinics, IADA meetings, sport-specific coaching summits, and high school alumni networks.
Youth strength and conditioning programming for the 6-to-18 year old population.
The things that work that the certification textbooks miss — barbell progression, conditioning that actually builds health & sports performance, and coaching kids who'd rather be on their phone.
SAMPLE TALK TOPICS
Each talk runs 30 to 60 minutes and is tailored to the audience. Q&A always included.
1. Strong Kids, Strong Families The case for raising kids who can deadlift their own bodyweight, run a sub-8 mile, and put their phone down on demand. Built for parent audiences.
2. The Truth About Youth Strength Training What the NSCA and pediatric research actually say — and what 13 years of coaching kids at MOA confirms. Built for school wellness committees, pediatric audiences, and skeptical PTAs.
3. The Death Resistant Framework: Recovery, Movement, Nutrition The three circles every long life rotates around — and what that looks like in a 14-year-old. Built for keynote slots, longevity-focused audiences, and Rotary or Chamber events.
4. Beyond Boot Camps: Coaching Real Strength in Real Kids Programming kids ages 6 to 18 with barbells, kettlebells, and bodyweight — the actual modalities, the actual progressions, and what to skip. Built for coaches, S&C peers, and IHSA-adjacent audiences.
5. Phones in the Cubby Why MOA athletes leave their phones at the door — and what changes in 60 minutes when they do. Built for school administrators, district wellness groups, and parent-ed nights.
6. 13 Pounds in 30 Days Family nutrition without the diet industry, the supplement aisle, or the calorie app. Built for parent audiences and pediatric practice staff trainings.
7. From Backyard to Barbell — The Mighty Oak Athletic Story The 13-year arc from one kid in a backyard to a Westmont strength facility with school partnerships across DuPage County. Built for alumni networks, Chambers, Rotaries, and entrepreneurship audiences.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Anywhere within driving distance of Westmont, IL is straightforward — the broader Chicagoland area, all of DuPage County, and the western suburbs. Out-of-state and international trips are available with travel covered.
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Yes — Zoom, Webex, and Microsoft Teams. Virtual works well for staff PD days, district committee briefings, and Grand Rounds.
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30 to 60 minutes is the sweet spot. Q&A is always included. Half-day workshops are available for coaching audiences or school staff trainings.
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It depends on the audience, the format, and the travel. Send an inquiry with the event details and we'll give you a straight answer.
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Yes. Coach Mike is available for podcast guest appearances on youth strength, family wellness, nutrition, longevity, and his books.
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Pediatricians and pediatric staff. School counselors and wellness coordinators. Coaches, athletic directors, and AD associations. Community service organizations like Rotary and Chamber of Commerce. Alumni networks. Anyone in a position to shape how kids grow up strong.
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Use the inquiry button at the top of this page or email coach@mightyoakathletic.com with the event details — date, audience, location, topic of interest, and AV setup. You'll hear back within one business day.
Bring Coach Mike to Your Audience
